My Culinary Journey
“Always go for the choice that scares you the most, because that is the one that is going to help you grow.”
My dream was not always to be a chef and own my own business. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life until my last year of high school. Growing up, I was always super creative and artsy. I knew from a very young age that i didn’t want a conventional job. I did not want to sit at a desk 9-5pm and type away at a computer all day. I had different aspirations! At first, I wanted to be a famous soccer player…but then I came to the realization, I just was not good enough for that. Then I figured I could become a fashion designer! I loved clothes and shoes, but then quickly figured out I HATED sewing. At this point, I was lost. I never thought of baking as a career until my mother told me one day in high school that I should start my own business on the side and give my neighbors some baked treats. I figured why not? Little by little, I began to get orders for cupcakes and cakes. The first few cakes I made were horrible! I look back on them now and think, why did they pay me to make that?! But the more orders I did, the better I got, the more I loved it, and the more I wanted to continue to do it! Maybe I could do something with this! I decided to look up “Best Culinary Schools in America'“. There were so many amazing schools. I applied to maybe 6 schools including my dream school, The Culinary Institute of America in New York. Man, I wanted it so badly. I finally knew what I wanted to do and getting into this school would be the icing on the cake. I waited months and months until finally I got the letter I had been dreaming of! I got in! The school was everything I imagined and more. In all honesty, I was a nervous wreck to leave home and start a life away from my family, but the nerves quickly vanished. I spent my first two years getting my Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. I loved it so much that I decided to continue my education and get my Bachelors. I was able to travel to Napa, California and France to immerse my in the culture and cuisines. My knowledge and love for food really grew. As I neared the end of my college journey, I grew nervous again of the next milestone; I had to get a job! My dream has always been to open up my own bakery, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work at a bakery right out of college. I wanted to explore other avenues and paths! There are so many options: hotels, restaurants, wine and beverage, etc. I first decided that I really wanted to move back to Chicago, where I’m from, and find a job. I took a huge leap and decided I’d start staging at fine dining restaurants. On my second ever stage in a restaurant, I knew i had found my dream job. I staged at a restaurant in Chicago called Yugen. It is a Japanese inspired fine dining restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful, the kitchen was beautiful, the people were amazingly nice, what more could I ask for?!? I accepted the job right then and there and got to work. To be honest, I was scared out of my mind, but I knew if I worked hard, good things would come. I worked there for about a year as a pastry cook when my opportunity to become the Pastry Sous Chef presented itself to me. I obviously pounced on the opportunity! It has now been a year and a half since I graduated college and I am still working at Yugen. I get to create and produce some amazing desserts and ideas. I have the opportunity and privilege to learn from my knowledgeable peers. Everyday I am growing and learning. I’m not finished yet. Cannot wait to see what my future has in-store for me, and I definitely can’t wait to share it with all of you. At the end of the day, I realize that the things that scare you the most to do, help you grow the most as well. Pushes you to your limits and helps you realize you can achieve your goals.
